Funding for books part of new G.I. Bill

Updated 12:29 pm, Thursday, August 18, 2011

Active duty soldiers and their spouses will soon be able to get funding for books and supplies as part of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

Beginning Oct. 1, active duty members and their spouses can receive up to $1,000 for books and supplies, per academic year, as part of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Active duty members were not previously eligible for the books and supplies funding.

Additional benefits to servicemembers and veterans include reimbursement of fees for exams used for admission to colleges. Such exams include the ACT, GMAT or SAT. Changes to the bill also mean reimbursement for more than one licensing or certification examination. Additionally, there are expanded benefits for non-college degree programs, on-the-job training, apprenticeship training, flight programs and correspondence training.

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"I think the great thing about these changes (is) that it brings a lot more training options under the umbrella of this already robust program," said Keith Wilson, director of education service at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

New enrollees in the program will also find that if they are entitled to the housing allowance (active duty and their spouses are not) they can receive that benefit while enrolled in certificate or other non-college degree programs or even long-distance learning.

Those enrolled in distance learning could receive up to 50 percent of the housing allowance provided to those who enrolled in on-campus education programs.